John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
This passage of scripture promises peace to all those who choose Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives, for He is described in the Bible as being the Prince of peace, and therefore, those who voluntarily come under his jurisdiction will partake of the uncanny peace and contentment, that only He can give.
In our world today there is turmoil and social unrest in so many countries, that we seem unable to cope with, or resolve the many disturbances that are arising almost every day. From Russia to Syria, from Venezuela to Egypt, and the ongoing feud between Israelis and the Palestinians, a spirit of unease and tension seems to be gripping our world. When observed properly, we see a pattern of violence, bloodshed, and riot taking hold of nation after nation and the question comes to mind, why aren't we able to resolve our differences as nations and individuals, in a cordial, peaceable manner? As usual we turn to the Bible for the answers to our most perplexing questions. Let's read:
Isaiah 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
The truth of the matter is that, according to this scripture there is never ever going to be a peaceable resolution to this world's problems, for the righteous have historically been in the minority, and thus, the rulers of this world who choose to be governed by the principles of satan's kingdom cannot procure the peace that only Christ can give. Yet, we can still experience the peace of God in our hearts on an individual basis, by allowing the Prince of peace to radiate in and through us to our fellow men.
However, we should be aware that there are certain conditions that can erode our peace on a personal level, and these should be understood and avoided at all costs. A conscience that is void of offenses toward God and our fellowmen is of critical importance to maintaining the peace that only God can give. Conversely, a guilty conscience disturbs our quietude and brings in its train, thoughts of remorse, regret, and restlessness that cannot be removed except we confess and forsake the sins that triggered the disturbing process in the first place.
David experienced this interference of his peace after he succumbed to the temptation to have another man's wife. After the deceitful pleasure of his sin had passed, he was left with a guilty conscience that troubled him night and day, for he was aware that serious wrongs had been committed and now those thoughts of remorse and regret hounded his every move. We can find an echo of his turbulent frame of mind in the words that he wrote while passing through this darkest period of his life. Let's read:
Psalms 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.
Actually, it was not God's hand that was heavy upon David, but rather his own conscience that kept bothering him through the knowledge of conscious sin. Yet the Lord forgave David, and after some time, he was fully restored to fellowship with God, even though he had to deal with the consequences of his actions in the real world. Through confession and deep repentance, he was able to gain the victory over the lusts of the flesh, and history shows that he never, ever afterward repeated the same error.
In our day, the efforts made at achieving peace without the removal of the root cause is an exercise in futility that ultimately leads to neverland. Real peace and contentment can only be obtained through accepting Jesus Christ into our hearts, and a faithful adherence to the principles of righteousness embodied in His law. Let's read:
Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should encourage us to allow Christ an entrance into our hearts, so that the promise of lasting peace may be ours. Let's read:
Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.
May this promise be ours both now and forever. God bless!